Saddle.



' G. W. MASLEN.

SADDLE.

APPLICATION FILED IuIY 25, I9I6.

l ,2l 3,674., Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

9 @Imm/Ihn) Y 't @fr I (www E @@@Qm @UConn/g GEORGE S. MASLEN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SADDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 191'?.

Application filed July 25, 1916. Serial No. 111,291.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. MASLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in thecounty of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Saddles, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to saddles generally and particularly to bicycles or vehicle saddles.

In saddles of the above specified type, use is made of a covering, generally of leather or like material. So far as I know that leather covering has been stitched or otherwise secured to a binder which is attached directly to the marginal edge of the saddle. This operation of stitching either to a binder or otherwise securing the leather saddle by stitching is costly and calls for a laborious operation and the finished product does not possess those features of durability which must necessarily be present incident to the rough usage to which the saddle is put.

The present invention which will be hereinafter specifically set forth has for its general object, the provision of a saddle structure which will be strong and durable, simple and inexpensive; one in which the leather covering can be expeditiously applied to or removed from the saddle top or body and one which will be neat and attractive, giving to the marginal portion of the saddle, a uniform or symmetrical appearance throughout.

A further object of the invention resides in the provisionof a saddle including a rigid top or body member having means thereon for accommodating the marginal edge of the flexible covering and means coperating with the first means to hold said marginal edge of the covering in an applied condition and under tension so that the intermediate body of the covering will be uniformly stretched over the top or body portion of the saddle.

Another obj ect of the invention resides in the provision of a saddle structure which will consist of a rigid body member having an attaching element for the saddle covering which will be concealed when applied to the saddle and at the same time arranged for accessibility when it is desired to remove the same from the saddle.

In addition to the above the covering attaching device employed herein is of a detachable or expansible construction and is capable of being expanded from time to time to meet changing conditions of the saddle covering whereby the covering may always be maintained in a uniform stretched condition over the saddle top or body.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an attaching device for the saddle covering which is designed whereby it is positively held against casual derangement incident to the many vibrations which are imparted to the seat while in use.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an attaching device which will be expansible, one wherein the covering of the saddle is stretched over and conned against the saddle body or top through the expansible properties of the device and one in which the device will be secondarily conducted so as to form a peculiar gripping means to engage with the marginal portion of the covering to insure its positive retention against the saddle and prevent the same from creeping.

Vit-h the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, has been illustrated, several preferred forms of the invention, it being, however, understood, that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein, exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view of the saddle. Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the attaching member. Fig. 3, is a transverse section through a portion of the saddle, showing the attaching member in an applied position. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the attaching member in modification. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a further modified form of the invention.

The saddle structure including the rigid top herein illustrated and its covering, are particularly designed for use in connection with that type of saddle shown in my Patent No. 1,181,026, of Apri125th,1916. This saddle as mentioned in my yprior patent, is

for use upon motor cycles. However, I do Y not desire to limit myself to saddle structures designed solely for use upon motor cycles, being evident that it may be used upon any well known form of vehicle.

The structure consists of a saddle top or body l, which may be formed of any suitable well known material, preferably metal. It is struck up in accordance with an appropriate or desired design and the marginal portion thereof is shown as being rolled downwardly and then slightly inwardly toward the center of the body so as to form a continuous inl'iexible channel 2, which is adapted to co-act with an'attaching or retaining and stretching device to be presently referred to.

The covering 8, is leather in the present instance andA is extended over the body l, then'downwardly over the rolled marginal portion of the body and then folded into lthe channel 2. Whatever may be the design of the saddle body, the attaching or stretching device will of course, be correspondingly formed and will thereforemalre no particular mention as to design of the device. The device as shown, consists of a single piece of metal, preferably spring steel7 which is formed inrorder that it will accommodate itselfto the design of the channel 2, formed as a part of the body l. The meeting ends of the device are preferably arranged at the back of the channel and they are adapted to come into over-lapping engagement with each other and to be moved, one across the other, in order that the remaining lengthV or portion of the device .itself may be expanded and operatively crowded into said channel 2, each arranged in close confinement against the marginal or free edge of the cover 3, a sufficient portion of the marginal or free edge of said covering being extended from one side of the clamping device so as to guard against any inequalities and maximize the gripping action ofthe device as will be understood.

The over-lapping portions 5 5, of the clamping device are reduced as compared with the maximum thicknessl of the body ofY the device and said over-lapping portions are arranged in parallelrelation with each other and their opposed surfaces are formed with `substantially ratchet teeth 6, whichintermate with each other whereby to hold the sides land in fact all of theremaining por.- tions of lthe device in yan expanded or crowded condition in the receiving 'channel 2. The free ends ofthe device adjacent to the toothed surfaces are provided with shoulders or notches 7 7, which are adaptedv to receive an expanding tool .(not shown) whereby the device can be Amanually crowded intothe mentioned channel. l, of course,

do not wish it to be understood that the device can be applied only by hand as any suitable machinery can be employed for the purpose ofnmechanically assembling the various elements of the saddle.

In addition to the expanding action of the device 4:, as a means for confining the leather covering in position upon the saddle top or body, I prefer to flute or corrugate the device, as at 8, so as to increase the gripping efficiency thereof against the marginal or free edge of the leather. YThis positively prevents `anyportion of said free edge of the leather from creepingA from under the device.

Aside from providing a saddle structure in which, means are employed for facilitating the operation Yof attaching the leather coveringv in the body, it is evident through the fact that theI marginal portion ofthe saddle top is rolled and associated `with the device 4, that the saddle asa whole, is materially reinforced ,andstrengthened and the sides ofthe saddle positively'held against coming indented Aor collapsed by careless` use. In the modified ,form shown in Figfthe channel portion of the metal formingthe body 1, is provided with a dependable extension which is Vadapted to be folded over and against the device, and against the under side of the body l, so .as to hold said device from accidental derangement from the channel.

' In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, use is made of aclip '9, which is bolted at 10, to the base flange ofthe seat top. Said clip is pro-vided with an extension 1l', which bears against the member 5, to conneth'e samefin its channel.`

I claim:

l. In a saddlestructure, a rigidbody providedwith a marginal channel, a covering having its free ledge portion extendediinto the channel and relatively rigid' means within the channel o o-acting with the walls i thereof to hold said free vedge portion of the coveringl in ,a confined condition against said `body and serving `to hold the intermediate portion of the covering in a stretched condition over 4the upper surface of said body. v

i l2. Asaddle structure comprising, ,a relatively rigid body, a flexible covering extending over the body Yand having a marginal portion extending under the body, and means separable from the body and coacting therewith to hold said marginal portion of the covering lin a ,secured 4condition against said body. Y

3. A yaddle structure comprising, a body, having a channel, and 'a iexlible covering extending over the body and against the wall of said channel, anda clamping `de- Vice .Se-,Parable .flrm the body and serving 1.3.0

to hold the covering in confinement against the Wall of said channel.

Ll. A saddle structure comprising, a body, having a channel on the under side thereof, a covering extending over the body and having a marginal portion extending over and against the Wall of said channel and an expansible device carried by the body and serving to hold the marginal portion of the covering against the Wall of the channel.

5. A saddle structure comprising, a body having a relatively rigid portion on its under side, a iexible covering extending over the body and terminating against said portion of the body, and a detachable device separable from the body and serving to hold the terminal of the covering in confinement against said portion of the body.

6. A saddle structure, comprising, a body having an inflexible channel, a covering extending over the body and into the channel, and mechanism detachably mounted in the channel and expansible therein and serving to confine the marginal portion of the covering against the Walls of the channel.

7. A saddle structure comprising, a body having a marginal channel, a flexible covering extending over the body and into the channel and an expansible device operating beneath the body and movable relatively of the Walls of the channel and adapted for impinging engagement With the marginal portion of the covering.

8. A saddle structure comprising, a rigid body having an iniexible channel, a covering extending over the body and having its marginal portion terminating in the channel, and a substantially split ring movable in the channel and against the marginal portion of the covering.

9. A saddle structure comprising, a relatively rigid body having a depending portion, a covering extending over the body and terminating on said depending portion and folded over the same and an expansible device associated With the body and operating to confine the terminal of the cove-ring against the depending portion of the body, the said device having over-lapped ends and means for holding said ends in eonnement With each other.

l0. A saddle structure comprising, a substantially rigid body having a depending portion, a covering extending over the body and folded over and against said depending portion, a flexible clamping device associated with the body and having end portions movable With relation to said depending portion and against the marginal portion of the covering and including co-acting toothed terminals for holding the end portions at adjusted positions.

l1. A saddle structure comprising, a substantially rigid body having a depending portion, a covering extending over the body and folded over and against said depending portion, a flexible clamping device associated vvith the body and having end portions movable With relation to said depending portion and against the marginal portion of the covering and including co-acting toothed terminals for holding the end portions at adjusted positions, and means circumscribing said toothed ends to hold the same against lateral separation.

12. A saddle structure including a substantially rigid body having an inflexible channel and a iiexible covering extending over the body and into the channel, and a member adapted to be expanded into the channel and to be concealed thereby and provided with inter-engaging ends, the said member having shoulders thereon whereby it may be expanded into said channel.

13. A saddle structure comprising, a top member having an inflexible channel, a covering extending over said member and into the channel, an expansible device movable With relation to the Walls of the channel and against the covering and means for holding said device against casual displacement from the channel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE S. MASLEN.

Gcpies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

